To lessen the burden of employees working in Northern Saskatchewan, when they leave their workplace location on vacation.

Policy Statement

The Government of Saskatchewan provides additional vacation expenses once a year to eligible employees headquartered north of the Northern Administration District Boundary.

Objectives

The policy aims to reduce the financial burden incurred by employees in Northern locations, by providing assistance once a year to leave the work location for vacation.

Principles

The Government of Saskatchewan is supportive of employees using their vacation days as it creates a healthy work-life balance.

Application

Once a year, ministries will provide eligible employees, their spouse and/or dependents with a scheduled return air flight from their place of work to Prince Albert or nearest centre depending on the northern location. If a scheduled air flight is not available, then a charter flight may be provided.

This cannot be claimed unless the employee, their spouse and/or dependents actually leave the North and is applicable only to these locations not serviced by regular roads. Winter roads are not considered regular roads.

This policy applies to government employees, their spouse and/or dependents who are headquartered in fly-out locations north of the Northern Administration District Boundary.

Exclusions

All non-permanent employees who have not worked for a period equivalent to a probationary period for their class are excluded.

Note: Non permanent employees are eligible only while actively at work.

Definitions

SpouseEmployee’s spouse (legal or common-law).Dependent Unmarried children 18 years of age or under.Children who are incapable of supporting
themselves because of physical or mental disorder are eligible without age
limit.

Inquiries

To lessen the burden of accessing medical and dental services for employees living in Northern locations.

Policy Statement

The Government of Saskatchewan provides additional vacation expenses once a year to eligible employees headquartered north of the Northern Administrative District Boundary.

Objectives

This policy aims to provide additional leaves and travel expenses for employees living in Northern communities who may have limited access to medical and dental services.

Principles

The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes that employees working in some Northern locations may encounter barriers/limitation in accessing medical and dental services. To promote health, wellness, and safety for all employees in the Government of Saskatchewan, additional leaves and travel expenses are provided.

Application

This policy applies to Government employees, their spouses and/or dependents who are headquartered north of the Northern Administration District Boundary.

Eligibility

Permanent Full-Time employees;

Permanent Part Time and Labour Service employees who have worked 40% or more in their first year of employment. If they have worked less than 40% in their first year of employment, they will become eligible once they complete their probationary period (24 calendar months);

Term employees are eligible once they have completed the equivalent to a probationary period;

All employees are eligible only when actively at work

Leave Benefit

Leave may be charged against the employee's accrued sick leave or vacation balances. If these accrued leave balances have been exhausted, leave shall be without pay.

Medical Leave Fly Out Locations

Ministry will provide a scheduled return air flight, charter flight, or air ambulance from place of work to the nearest available medical centre (Prince Albert, Edmonton or Flin Flon, whichever is closer).

To be eligible the employee must:

In centres where medical attention is available must provide referral from working location and of warranted medical attention at destination; or

In centres where medical attention is not available, a proof of warranted medical attention at destination must be provided

Medical Leave for Locations Accessible by Road

Return mileage allowance to the nearest centre where full time service is available will be paid in accordance with the mileage allowance provided in the current Saskatchewan Government Employers' Union Agreement.

To be eligible, employees:

In centres where medical attention is available must provide referral from working location and of warranted medical attention at destination; or

In centres where medical attention is not available, a proof of warranted medical attention at destination must be provided.

This is applicable only to locations serviced by regular roads. Winter roads are not considered regular roads.

Dental Leave

The same travel benefits for medical leave apply for dental leave in communities where a full time practitioner is not available.

Administration

An employee who claims for a medical trip is not entitled to claim other benefits on the same trip.

Only single trip benefits will be paid when:

Two or more employees are given time off for medical travel and they are travelling together; or

An employee arranges to ride in a government vehicle or private vehicle for which the ministry is paying

The medical leave benefits are not intended to subsidize travel expense incurred by employees seeking medical and dental services in locations further south than Prince Albert.

Should the employee or family member wish to travel to a different location, expenses shall only be paid to the nearest available medical centre. If the service is available in the employees' location, no travel expenses shall be paid.

For examples;

If an employee located in La Ronge wishes to see an optometrist in Prince Albert, no travel expenses should be paid given that optometrist services are available in La Ronge. (If there would be significant delay in the employee's ability to access the optometrist service in La Ronge, consideration would be given to paying for travel expenses to Prince Albert).

If an employee located in La Ronge sees a specialist in Saskatoon, and these specialist services may or may not be available in Prince Albert, travel expenses should be paid only to Prince Albert and return from Prince Albert.

Employees and/or spouses should be encouraged to use Central Vehicle Agency vehicles rather than utilizing private vehicles.

Definitions

SpouseEmployee’s spouse (legal or common-law).

DependentUnmarried children 18 years of age or under.Children who are incapable of supporting
themselves because of physical or mental disorder are eligible without age
limit.